Safety closures for containers

ABSTRACT

Tamper-proof closure means for a container comprises a stopper and a safety device connected to the stopper by a breakable connection. Co-operating faces or projections on the safety device and the stopper are adapted to push against each other during closing of the stopper, and to move away from each other, so breaking the breakable connection, during opening of the stopper.

United States Patent 11 1 Wassilieif SAFETY CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS [76]Inventor: Victor Wassilieff, 84 Rue de lAssomption, 75 Paris 16eme,France [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 111,434

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 11, 1970 France 7004770 [52][1.8. CI 215/42, 215/43 R, 215/46 A, 215/55 [51] Int. Cl B65d 41/20 [58]Field of Search 215/9, 42, 43 R, 215/43 A, 46 A, 48, 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,430,777 3/1969 Esposito,Jr. 215/55 [111 3,747,793 July 24, 1973 3,462,035 8/1969 Grussen 215/422,990,078 6/1961 215/43 A 3,472,411 10/1969 215/43 A 3,142,402 7/1964Fox 215/46 A Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance AssistantExaminer-Stephen Marcus Attorney-Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRACTTamper-proof closure means for a container comprises a stopper and asafety device connected to the stopper by a breakable connection.Co-operating faces or projections on the safety device and the stopperare adapted to push against each other during closing of the stopper,and to move away from each other, so breaking the breakable connection,during opening of the stopper.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnJumms SHEET 2 0F 2 hwy 70,

SAFETY CLOSURES FOR CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to tamper-proof closure means for containers, of thekind comprising a breakable connection which is adapted to be broken inthe course of the first opening operation and the integrity of whichensures the integrity of the contents of the container.

The invention has the object of facilitating the manufacture,utilization, and effectiveness of closure means of this kind.

SUMMARY According to the invention closure means for a container,comprises a stopper, a safety device connected to the latter by abreakable connection, said device covering the stopper to the extentrequired to enable the latter to be acted on for the purpose of openingthe container only by manipulating said device as long as the connectionremains intact, and at least two cooperating faces or porjectionsdisposed respectively on said device and on said stopper and adapted topush one against the other in order to drive the stopper by acting onthe device for the purpose of closing the stopper, and to move away fromone another, thus breaking the breakable connection, when the device isacted on in the direction for opening the container.

In one form of construction of the closure means defined above, thesafety device is a false skirt, hereinafter referred to as skirt, ofcylindrical, prismatic, or other shape, surrounding the side face of thestopper.

In one application the co-operating faces or projections are formed onthe side face of the stopper and on the inside face of the skirt.

It is convenient for the breakable connection to comprise at least oneconnecting means consisting of a film of plastics material connectingthe mutually opposite faces of the stopper and of the device or skirt.

In one particular case the zones of attachment of a connecting means ofthis kind are situated on the previously mentioned co-operating pushingfaces.

In one embodiment the stopper is driven by the device with the aid of aplurality of connecting means distributed on the periphery of thestopper and each comprising at least two of the aforesaid co-operatingfaces or projections.

It is advantageous for the breakable connection to be composed of aplurality of connecting means adapted to break in succession, and notsimultaneously, when the device is operated for the purpose of openingthe container, thus making it easier to break the breakable connectionby applying a force less than that required for unstoppering thecontainer.

According to one application, this stepped breaking of the breakableconnections is effected by giving them In one form of push-in closuremeans according to the invention at least one of the two mutuallyopposite faces of the skirt and of the stopper is provided, over part ofits height, with thin axial ribs connected by their top or bottom endsto a co-operating face formed on the skirt or on the stopper, and whichare adapted to strike against said face when the skirt is acted on forthe purpose of closing the container, and separated therefrom by rupturealong the edge of the ribs, when the skirt is acted on for the purposeof opening the container.

In an alternative form of push-in closure means according to theinvention, the thrust face or faces of the stopper are angularly spacedfrom the corresponding thrust faces of the skirt, in order to facilitatemoulding, the co-operating thrust faces being adapted to take upposition axially one opposite the other through the rotation of theskirt on the stopper, on a determined an gular path, the skirt beinglocked in position at the end of the path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical axial section, byway of example, of a screw type closure means according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows on a larger scale a detail of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 shows invertical axial section an alternative form of screw type closure meansaccording to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section along the line V-V in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of another screw type of clo sure means,

FIG. 7 is a vertical axial section of a push-in closure means accordingto the invention,

FIG. 8 is a cross-section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of an alternative push-in closure means, and

FIG. 10 illustrates an improvement to the screwthread of a screw typeclosure means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In each embodiment the closuremeans is formed of plastic material.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 a container stopper 1 of the screw type has a side face2 surrounded by a cylindrical skirt 3. In its upper portion the sideface 2 has four projections 4 uniformly spaced over the periphery of thestopper and each having a radially disposed face 5. The inner face 6 ofthe skirt 3 has four projecting tongues directed circumferentiallytowards the faces 5, the end faces (not given a reference) of saidtongues being in different thicknesses and/or different lengths in thedirection of the breaking force.

The arrangements proposed above are suitable equally for screw closuresand for push-in closures.

According to one embodiment which is applicable to push-in closuremeans, at least one of the two mutually opposite faces of the skirt andof the stopper has a radial step which at an intermediate level in theclosure means constitutes a co-operating face of the above mentionedtype which is transversal in relation to the axis of the closure means.

fact moulded integrally with part of the faces 5. The tongues 7 are thusconnected to the projections 4 by thin films of plastics material.

In the state illustrated, the side face 2 of the stopper is not directlyaccessible. It can thus be attempted to screw on or unscrew the stopperonly with the aid of the skirt. When the stopper is first screwed on atthe depot where the containers are packed or filled, the tongues 7 pushagainst the projections 4, thus enabling the skirt to drive the stopperin the screweing-on direction. When the first attempt is made to unscrewthe stopper, the thin films connecting the elements 7 to the elements 4break before the torque applied to the skirt attains a value requiredfor unstoppering the container. The fact that the films can break, whichis easy to see because they are situated in the top portion of theclosure means, enables them to serve as check or guarantee elements.After they have broken, the skirt can be removed and the side face ofthe stopper acted on directly.

In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the stopper 1, its side face2, the skirt 3, and the projections 4 having radial faces 5 are asdescribed with reference to the embodiment of the preceding Figures. Infour positions the face 6 of the skirt has four projections 8, each ofwhich has a radial face 9 disposed opposite and at a distance from aface 5 on the stopper, said radial face 9 being connected to said face 5by a thin film 10 of plastics material. The distances between mutuallycorresponding faces 5, 9 are equal, but the films 10 have quitedifferent dimensions from one another.

In order to place the stopper in position by screwingon after filling atthe packing depot, the skirt drives the stopper by pushing the radialfaces 9 against the corresponding radial faces 5, the intermediate films10 being crushed. When the first attempt at unscrewing is made, thefilms of plastics material distributed over the periphery of the closuremeans break successively in the order of the increasing lengths, thefirst to break being the shortest.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the stopper 1 is provided onits side face 2 with four tooth-shaped projections 4 which are regularlyspaced over the periphery of the closure means and each of which havinga radially disposed face 5. On its inner face 6 the skirt 3 has fourtooth-shaped projections 8, each of which is provided with a radial face9 situated opposite and at a distance from a respective face 5. Thestopper and the skirt are connected by four thin films 10 of mouldingmaterial, which are situated between the four sets of co-operating teeth4, 8. The film 10A is plane in shape and occupies a radial position. Thefilm 103, which is plane in shape, is inclined in relation to the localradial direction. The film 10C and the film 10D are curved or folded inshape. Screwing-on after packing is effected by contact and the pushingof the faces 9 against the faces 5. If the skirt is manipulated in theunscrewing direction, the films 10A to 10D are stretched to differentextents in dependence on their original shape and break successively inaccordance with their starting dimensions in cross-section, their axialdimensions, and their thicknesses. Similarly to the embodiment of FIGS.4 and 5, the stepped rupture of these films facilitates the maintainingof the breaking torque of the breakable connection at-a valuesubstantially lower than that of the unscrewing torque.

FIGS. 7 and 8 relate to a push-on closure means to which an axial forcemust be applied in one direction or the other in order to fasten it tothe neck of the container or to remove it therefrom. As in the precedingexamples, this closure means is composed of two elements, namely astopper and a skirt. The stopper ll of the cap type, has the generalshape ofa hollow cylinder provided with an end 12, which is intended toenclose a container neck and is provided at its bottom part with anannular rim 13 bent inwards to engage under a neck ring (not shown). Theside face of the stopper has a top portion 14 slightly recessed inrelation to the remaining bottom portion 15. At each of three positionsspaced apart on its periphery at equal angular intervals the face 15 hasfive thin axial ribs 16.

' The inner face of the skirt 17 has a top portion 18 situated oppositethe stopper face 14 and a bottom portion 19 of larger diameter situatedopposite the stopper face 15. The two faces 18, 19, which are offset inrelation to one another, are connected by an underface 20 disposedtransversely in relation to the axis of the closure means. The ribs 16,which are moulded integrally with the stopper and skirt, are joined tothe stopper along their axial dimension and to the skirt along theirradial dimension at the level of the underface 20, the radial dimensionbeing the shorter of the two. The diameter of the upper face 18 of theskirt is at least equal to the diameter of the bottom face 15 of thestopper, so that the stopper and the skirt are connected to one anotheronly by the ribs 16.

In order to stopper the container after filling, either the bottom 12 ofthe stopper 1] or the skirt 17 can be acted on. In the latter case, theskirt drives the stopper by pushing axially against the ribs 16. Inorder to remove the closure means it is possible to act only on theskirt, making use of the lugs 21 formed on its bottom edge. The axialforce thus imparted to the skirt in the upward direction has the effectof breaking its connection to the ribs 16 along the relatively shortradial direction of the latter, before attaining a value sufficient toextract the stopper.

The variant illustrated in FIG. 9 also relates to a push-on closuremeans. On its side face 23 the stopper 22 has four projections 24 ofsawtooth profile. The skirt 25 surrounding the stopper 22 is provided onits inside face 26 with four sawtooth projections 27, each of which hasa face inclined slightly in relation to the local tangential directionand opposite a parallel projecting face 24. In addition, the side face23 of the stopper has a tooth-like projection 28 opposite the second,radially disposed face of each of the projections 27, and also atooth-like projection 29 side by side with the sec ond, radiallydisposed face of each of the projections 24. The projections 29terminate at the top at a level at least equal to the bottom level ofthe sawteeth 27. Finally, tooth-like projections 30 are formed on theinner face 26 of the skirt 25, and thin films 31 of moulding materialform a breakable connection between the stopper and the skirt.

In order to push the closure means received from the manufacturingprocess, (that is to say as illustrated) over or into the containerneck, the first step is to turn the skirt, in relation to the stopper,in the direction of the arrow S. The teeth 27 slide over the teeth 24along their respective inclined faces, moving radially apart towards theoutside, and through relaxation return to the starting radial positionafter passing the teeth 24. Rotation in the direction of the arrow S isthen stopped through the striking of the projections 30 against theprojections 28 and the return movement of the skirt towards the rear isprevented because the respective radial faces of the sawtoothprojections 24, 27 bear against one another. The skirt is thus locked ina position such that the sawteeth 27 lie over the teeth 29, so that thestopper can be driven in by applying a force axially to the skirt,through the axial thrust applied to the toothJike projections 29 bymeans of the projections 27. If an axial force is applied to the skirtin the opposite direction, that is to say the unstoppering direction,

the projections 27 move away from the tooth-like projections 29 and thisforce can be transmitted to the stopper only through the breakableconnections 31, which results in their breaking. This embodiment has theadvantage over the previous one of not stressing the breakableconnection during stoppering, and of facilitating the provision of anample surface of contact between the projections co-operating by axialthrust in the downward direction.

FIG. illustrates an improvement which is applicable generally to screwcap type stoppers serving to close containers having an externallythreaded neck. A glass container 32 has a neck 33 provided on its outerface with a screwthread 34 and a bottom ring 35. A stopper 36 has ascrewthread 37 on its inner face; said screwthread terminates at thebottom in a tapered portion 38 which is driven in after the style of awedge, in the course of the screwing operation, between the horizontalring 35 and the adjacent portion of the neck screwthread 34. This makesit possible for the stopper to be locked more effectively by screwing,but without ensuring fluid-tight contact between the stopper and the topsurface 39 of the neck, since the stopper is prevented from beingscrewed right home by the position of the ring. If necessary a seal maybe restored by elastic contact between the inner face 40 of thecontainer neck and a reentrant element 41 extending downwards from thebottom face of the bottom of the stopper.

The arrangements just described enable sufficient play, determined independence on the material used for manufacture, to be provided betweenthe stopper and the safety device, so as to prevent the stopper frombeing tightened by radial compression of the latter, which would make itpossible to unstopper the container without breaking the breakableconnection.

I claim:

1. Closure means for a container, said means formed as a one-piecemolding, comprising a stopper, a safety sition when the device is actedon in the direction required for closing the container, and to moveapart from one another, breaking the breakable connection when thedevice is acted on in the direction required for opening the container.

2. Closure means according to claim 1, in which the safety device is askirt surrounding the side face of the stopper.

3. Closure means according to claim 2, in which the co-operatingprojections are formed on the side face of the stopper and on the insideface of the skirt.

4. Closure means according to claim 2, in which the breakable connectioncomprises at least one film of material connecting the oppositelysituated faces of the stopper and skirt.

5. Closure means according to claim 4, in which the film constitutes aconnection between the aforesaid two co-operating projections.

6. Closure means according to claim 1, in which the stopper is driven bythe device with the aid of a plurality of connecting means distributedover the periphery of the stopper and each comprising at least two ofthe aforesaid co-operating projections.

7. closure means according to claim 1, in which the breakable connectionconsists of a plurality of connections adapted to break successivelywhen the device is acted on in the direction in which the container isopened.

8. Closure means according to claim 7, in which the connections arefilms of material having different respective lengths from one anotherin the direction of the breaking force.

9. Closure means according to claim 1, of the pushon or push-in type, inwhich the safety device has a face opposite the side face of thestopper, at least one of said faces having a radial step whichconstitutes, at an intermediate level in the closure means, one of theaforesaid co-operating projections disposed transversely in relation tothe axis of the closure means. V

10. Closure means according to claim 9, in which the transversalprojection formed by stepping on one of the two aforesaid oppositelysituated faces is attached to thin axial ribs formed on the other of thesaid oppositely situated faces.

11. Closure means according to claim 1, of the push in or push-on type,in which the safety device is provided, on a face disposed opposite theside face of the stopper, with at least one projection adapted to takeup position, when the device is rotated on the stopper, in line with andabove a co-operating projection formed on said side face.

12. Closure means according to claim 11, provided with means ofrotationally locking the device on the stopper after the aforesaidco-operating projections have been brought vertically in line with oneanother.

1. Closure means for a container, said means formed as a onepiecemolding, comprising a stopper, a safety device connected to the latterby a breakable connection, said device covering the stopper to theextent required to make it impossible to act on said stopper in theopening direction except by manipulating said device as long as theconnection remains intact, and at least two cooperating projectionsdisposed respectively on the device and on the stopper and adapted topush one against the other to drive the stopper to closing position whenthe device is acted on in the direction required for closing thecontainer, and to move apart from one another, breaking the breakableconnection when the device is acted on in the direction required foropening the container.
 2. Closure means according to claim 1, in whichthe safety device is a skirt surrounding the side face of the stopper.3. Closure means according to claim 2, in which the co-operatingprojections are formed on the side face of the stopper and on the insideface of the skirt.
 4. Closure means according to claim 2, in which thebreakable connection comprises at least one film of material connectingthe oppositely situated faces of the stopper and skirt.
 5. Closure meansaccording to claim 4, in which the film constitutes a connection betweenthe aforesaid two co-operating projections.
 6. Closure means accordingto claim 1, in which the stopper is driven by the device with the aid ofa plurality of connecting means distributed over the periphery of thestopper and each comprising at least two of the aforesaid co-operatingprojections.
 7. closure means according to claim 1, in which thebreakable connection consists of a plurality of connections adapted tobreak successively when the device is acted on in the direction in whichthe container is opened.
 8. Closure means according to claim 7, in whichthe connections are films of material having different respectivelengths from one another in the direction of the breaking force. 9.Closure means according to claim 1, of the push-on or push-in type, inwhich the safety device has a face opposite the side face of thestopper, at least one of said faces having a radial step whichconstitutes, at an intermediate level in the closure means, one of theaforesaid co-operating projections disposed transversely in relation tothe axis of the closure means.
 10. Closure means according to claim 9,in which the transversal projection formed by stepping on one of the twoaforesaid oppositely situated faces is attached to thin axial ribsformed on the other of the said oppositely situated faces.
 11. Closuremeans according to claim 1, of the push-in or push-on type, in which thesafety device is provided, on a face disposed opposite the side face ofthe stopper, with at least one projection adapted to take up position,when the device is rotated on the stopper, in line with and above aco-operating projection formed on said side face.
 12. Closure meansaccording to claim 11, provided with means of rotationally locking thedevice on the stopper after the aforesaid co-operating projections havebeen brought vertically in line with one another.